San Antonio - The New Orleans Hornets will get injured shooting guard Eric Gordon back on the bench for moral support Saturday night when the team plays the Indiana Pacers in New Orleans Arena.

But Coach Monty Williams said here Friday that Gordon's first game action isn't imminent. "He's been doing so much rehab now I think it's a matter of him getting his game condition back," Williams said after the team's morning shoot-around in preparation for Friday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs. "The only way to do that is to play. But there's some things he can do to build a base before he steps on the floor so that's what (the Hornets training and strength and conditioning staff) will be doing over the next few days."

New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon expected to be back with team on bench Saturday night; unsure when he'll play. (Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune)Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Gordon has rehabilitated and strengthened his ailing right knee in Los Angeles since Nov. 7 and said Wednesday night he'd be playing by the end of the month.

Williams said Friday Gordon had not yet been cleared for contact work.

"What I do know is he reported he feels real good and at this point we want to get him back with our guys for a few days to see where we're at," Williams said. "I think that's where we're headed."

Gordon has not played at all this season after experiencing continued issues with the right knee that kept him out of all but nine games last year and required in-season arthroscopic surgery.

He sat out the team's month-long training camp while attempting to strengthen the knee to alleviate pain associated with what he said Wednesday was a patellar tendon issue and bone bruise.